Ambassador James Morgan Pitia, South Sudan's Minister Foregin Affairs. (Photo: File/ COURTESY)

A South Sudan diplomat to the African Union urged the continental body to intervene and assist the government in the disarmament and demobilization of armed civilians in South Sudan.

The region has been witnessing a series of communal conflicts.

In his letter to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the AU Commission, James Morgan Pitia said the insecurity in greater Jonglei is centered on cattle rustling and child abduction.

The diplomat called on the African Union to do similar practices of Liberia and Sierraleon by supporting South Sudan in carrying out a disarmament exercise.

This according to Morgan can be done through AU funding.

Ambassador Morgan told Eye Radio from Addis Ababa that he has informed AU leaders about the magnitude of communal conflict in greater Jonglei.

“Here in the African Union, we requested the department of peace and security to assist our government on the issue of disarmament but there was no follow-up even though our request was approved in 2020,” said Amb. Morgan.

“When the war ended in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the African Union Peace and Security Council came in and supported the government to disarm the civilians,

“The disarmament of civilians is not something that is new in this country. It is the African Union to come in, the security force could be used to disarm the people because we know that our civilians say they bought these guns with their money,

“There was a mechanism for refunding the civilians. They should send their guns back to the African Union, so the African Union can collect these guns together with the government of South Sudan.”

Ambassador James Morgan’s call comes days after fighting in Gumruk and neighboring Lekuangole counties which resulted in the death of more than 50 people and dozens of injuries.

On Wednesday, 28th December 2022, authorities in the Pibor Administrative Area said, more than 10,000 civilians have been displaced by the inter-communal violence in Gumruk County.